19-249 State Attorney’s Office Releases Results Of Investigation Into Shooting Involving Three Deputies; Shooting Justified (See News Release #19-220 for Additional Info)
Deputy Involved Shooting- SAO Findings
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Office of the State Attorney
Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Pasco and Pinellas Counties
Deputy Brian Williams
Age: 37
Date of hire: 09/15/2005
Deputy Brennen Wede
Age: 26
Date of hire: 08/4/2014
Deputy Chris Amatruda
Age: 33
Date of hire: 07/18/2016
John J. Clark (Suspect- Deceased)
DOB: 11/1/1983
Address: 2360 Flanders Way, Unit A, Safety Harbor
What:
The State Attorney’s Office released the results of their investigation into a shooting involving three deputies that left one man deceased in Safety Harbor. The shooting was deemed justified.
Where:
The incident occurred at a residence located at 2360 Flanders Way, Unit A, in Safety Harbor.
When:
The incident occurred at about 4:21 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019.
The results of the SAO investigation were released on Friday, September 20, 2019.
Why/How:
The State Attorney’s Office released the results of their investigation into a shooting involving three deputies that left one man deceased in Safety Harbor on August 3, 2019.
State Attorney Bernie McCabe concluded in a letter that was sent to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri on Friday, September 20, 2019, stating “As a result of our investigation concluded by my office, I have determined that Deputies Brennan Wede, Brian Williams, and Christopher Amatruda were in the lawful performance of their legal duties when they discharged their weapons at John Julian Clark. John Julian Clark’s actions of failing to respond to commands to stop his vehicle and raising his shotgun within the vehicle contrary to the deputies' lawful commands, gave them grounds to reasonably believe that they were in imminent danger of great bodily harm or death when they fired their weapons.”
The State Attorney’s Office concluded that the death of John Julian Clark was a justifiable homicide pursuant to Sections 776.012 and 775.05, Florida Statutes
Original news release here:
